FORMER U.S. Vice President Al Gore called on television executives, producers and performers to help warn viewers about global warming as he accepted a special honor Monday at the 35th International Emmy Awards.

British TV productions dominated the ceremony, winning seven of the nine categories, with BBC One's "The Street" enjoying a double win for drama series and best actor.

Robert De Niro introduced Gore as this year's recipient of the International Emmy Founders Award for his efforts to promote "our common humanity."

Gore asked for help from the television professionals gathered in the grand ballroom of the Hilton New York Hotel for the awards ceremony, presented by The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

The International Emmys honor excellence in TV production outside the United States.

Britain had led all countries with eight nominations. Brazil had seven nominations, but was shut out.

The only non-British winners were Poland's "The Magic Tree" for children's program; the Netherlands' Pierre Bokma, for his role as a religious software entrepreneur in "The Chosen One," for which he tied with Jim Broadbent of "The Street" for best actor; and French actress Muriel Robin, who won as best actress for her role as an infamous "black widow" serial killer in the true-life drama, "Marie Besnard -- The Poisoner."

British comedian Stephen Fry took home the Emmy for best documentary for "Stephen Fry -- The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive" about his own and other people's experiences living with bipolar disorder.

Other British winners included "Little Britain Abroad" in the comedy category; "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?," a reality competition for non-scripted entertainment, and "Simon Schama's Power of Art: Bernini," about the 17th-century Roman sculptor, for arts programming.

French actress Carole Bouquet presented the International Emmy Directorate Award to Patrick Le Lay, chairman of the TF1 Group, for his role in expanding the French network into one of the largest in Europe.

The academy is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with more than 500 members from nearly 70 countries and over 400 companies.

(SD-Agencies)